Archive For: –LNTM EF News

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!Below you will discover extracts the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has copied from the Local Notice to Mariners, that concern Eastern Florida waters. The choice of what to extract is based on our appraisal of news that is of primary interest to the cruising community, and should not in any way be considered a comprehensive relisting of all the information that is available in the Local Notice to Mariners’ various editions.
Also, please note that LNTM extracts are listed below in chronological order, based on publishing date.

The Main Street Bridge has a vertical clearance of 38ft (charted at 40ft), but recent reconstruction has often reduced that clearance to as little as 28ft. If you intend to pass under the bridge on the morning of April 4, then contact the Bridge Tender at 904-891-2191 to confirm your clearance.

FLORIDA – ST JOHNS RIVER – MAIN STREET BRIDGE – JACKSONVILLE: Bridge Closure.
The Main Street Bridge across the St Johns River, Jacksonville, Florida will be closed to navigation from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 4, 2015 for an event. Vessels that may pass through the bridge without an opening may do so at any time. Chart: 11491 LNM: 08/15

This destroyed Light 82 marks the southwest corner of a dogleg turn just south of the Wabasso Bridge at mile 943.

FLORIDA – AICW – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH – INDIAN RIVER SOUTH SECTION: Hazard to Navigation
Indian River (South Section) Light 82 (LLNR 43790) is destroyed. The remains of the steel pile pose a hazard to navigation and are marked with a TRLB WR82, Fl Q R characteristics 5 yards channelward in position 27-45-31.065N/080-24-48.994W. Mariners are advised to transit the area with extreme caution. Chart 11475 LNM: 08/15

These training exercises are some distance east of the Waterway and north of the Canaveral Inlet and Barge Canal. They will in no way affect navigation except for the noise of the explosions and the pyrotechnic displays.

FLORIDA – CAPE CANAVERAL – PORT CANAVERAL: JOINT MILITARY TRAINING EXERCISE
There will be a Joint Military Training Exercise conducted in the East Turning Basin (Trident Basin) of Port Canaveral, FL from 02-06 March, 2015. The exercise will involve the firing of blank ammunition, the detonation of improvised explosive devices and pyrotechnics. Role play vessels will transit from the Poseidon Wharf of the Middle Turning Basin to the Trident Basin each day of the exercise. All exercises will be conducted within the confines of the Trident Basin. Mariners are advised to exercise caution while transiting this area. Further information contact the U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Safety Detachment Port Canaveral, LCDR West or CWO Corr at (321) 784-6780. LNM: 07/15

Although this project involves the Juno Beach shoreline, work vessels will be in the Waterway south of Donald Ross Bridge (see bold print below). The Waterway stretch cited below through Juno Beach is straight and narrow with no markers. The work vessels mentioned are most likely active during the week, so observe caution when passing.

FLORIDA – AICW – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH: Juno Beach Shore Line Protection.
The Vance Construction Company will begin placing rip rap material along the shoreline of Juno Beach on or about 05 February until approximately 01 August, 2015. Hours of operations will be daylight hours only – Monday through Friday (8:00am to 5:00pm) barges will be moored 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Vessels involved: (3) barges- Lucas One, Mobro ZT111 and Joe’d, (1) tug- Blaise and (1) push-boat-Sea Lion II. Tug Blaise and Push-boat Sea Lion II will monitor channels 16 and 10. The tugs and barges will be operating in the AICW south of the Donald Ross Bridge which may affect some boaters traveling northbound. One barge will be transiting north to the Juno Dunes Natural Area north to the Bluffs at Marcinski. Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. Contact James Vance (973) 896-8428for further information. Chart 11472 LNM: 06/15

This new fixed 65ft bridge will be north of the existing Sisters Creek bascule bridge with a closed vertical clearance of only 24ft at mile 740.

FLORIDA – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – ST SIMONS SOUND TO TOLOMATO RIVER – HECKSHER DRIVE/SISTERS
CREEK BRIDGE: Bridge Construction.
Archer Western Contractors, LLC has advised the Coast Guard that they are working on constructing the new High-Level Fixed Sisters Creek Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 739.2, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. This plan includes two temporary trestles placed outside the navigable channel. There will be various floating equipment outside the main channel during most of this construction. The bridge waterway construction will start in February. The main girder span construction and fender system is currently planned for Fall 2015; which will result in waterway closures/restrictions. The exact dates will be published in future Local Notice to Mariners. This project is anticipated to be completed by November/December 2015. The demolition of existing bridge is planned for January 2016 through July 2016.

This destroyed daybeacon marks the south side of the Eau Gallie River entrance channel off the western edge of the Waterway just south of the Eau Gallie fixed bridge.

FLORIDA – AICW – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH – EAU GALLIE CHANNEL: Hazard to Navigation
Eau Gallie Channel Daybeacon 1 (LLNR 43060) is destroyed. The remains of the pile is sticking out of the water by 1ft and poses a hazard to navigation. Mariners are advised to transit the area with caution. Chart 11472 LNM: 05/15

This dredging will be done in the Inlet proper and not the inlet’s intersection with the Waterway. Note the directive regarding the entire channel width. Light 6 is between Singer Island and Palm Beach.

FLORIDA – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH – LAKE WORTH INLET: Dredge Operations
Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting will begin dredging operations in Lake Worth Inlet, Palm Beach County, FL on or about February 23, 2015. Dredging operations will be conducted within the Federal Navigation Channel encompassing the entire channel width from Lake Worth Inlet LB 6 (LLNR 10205.5) extending eastward 1000’ past the northern jetty. The project will involve the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge ATCHAFALAYA removing shoaled material from the Federal Channel and then transiting around the south jetty to dispose of the material in the nearshore disposal area directly to the south of the Lake Worth Inlet’s southern jetty. The dredge will be supported by the survey vessel “SURVEY 2”. All vessels will monitor VHF channels 16, 14, and use 74 as the working channel. The dredge will operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The work is scheduled to be completed on or about March 24, 2015. Mariners are urged to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. Contact the Project Manager, Aaron Barton at (617) 645-3697 for further information.
Chart 11472 LNM: 05/15

This charted spoil area is on the eastern side of a narrow Waterway channel abreast of Lake Park at the southern end of Lake Worth. As with all narrrow channels in the Waterway, care must be taken to stay in the channel!

FLORIDA – AICW – PALM SHORES TO WEST PALM BEACH – LAKE WORTH NORTH: Hazard to Navigation/Shallow Area
The USCG received a report of a shallow area of approximately 4ft in position 26-47.652’N/080-02.701’W located in the Spoil Area east of the Intracoastal Waterway just north of the Florida AIA Bridge in West Palm Beach, Fl. Mariners are advised to use caution while transiting the area. Chart 11472 LNM: 02/15

With 22ft closed vertical clearance, Main Street Bascule Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 830, south-southeast of unlighted daybeacon #32. Completion date of these emergency repairs is unknown as of Week 42/14.

FLORIDA – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – TOLOMATO RIVER TO PALM SHORES – MAIN STREET BRIDGE: Bridge
Discrepancy.
Volusia County, the bridge owner, of the Main Street Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway mile 829.7, Daytona, Florida has advised the Coast Guard that the bridge has malfunctioned and they are currently on single-leaf operations. A manual double-leaf opening is available by contacting the bridge tender. No estimated time of repair has been provided. Chart 11485 LNM: 42/14

This sinking light marks the entrance to the channel into Government Cut in Miami. It is located 2.5 nautical miles offshore and sits northeast of the first channel marker.

SEACOAST FLORIDA – JUPITER INLET TO FOWEY ROCKS: Hazard to Navigation
MIAMI LIGHTED BUOY M (LLNR 895/10455) is riding low in the water and sinking. Aid will eventually become extinguished and sink. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting through the area. Chart 11466 LNM 37/14

With a closed vertical clearance of 35ft, reduced to 30ft in September, the Lake Worth/Lake Avenue bascule bridge crosses the ICW at Statue Mile 1029, south of unlighted daybeacon #33.These 4-hour morning closures will certainly impact the annual fall migration.

FLORIDA – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – WEST PALM BEACH TO MIAMI – WEST PALM BEACH – LAKE
AVENUE/ROBERT HARRIS BRIDGE: Temporary Bridge Regulations/Bridge Repair.
The Florida Department of Transportation has initiated coordination with the Coast Guard to consider regulations on the Lake Worth/Lake Avenue/Robert Harris Bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway mile 1028.0, Lake Worth, Palm Beach County, Florida, which will allow for some bridge closures and temporary regulation changes to order to facilitate construction/repair activity on this bridge. The Coast Guard has agreed to allow this bridge to remain closed to navigation from 12:05 a.m. to 4:59 a.m. and from 7:05 a.m. to 10:59 a.m. daily, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. This bridge will be allowed to open once an hour on the top of hour for the remainder of the day. The vertical clearance of the bridge will be reduced by 5 feet which will allow for a vertical clearance of 30 feet in the closed position.
Coastal Gunite Construction Company has advised the Coast Guard that they will start this project on September 2, 2014 and will continue until May 15, 2015. Chart: 11467 Ref: LNM 45-13 through 30-14

In light of recent night-time boating safety concerns (http://cruisersnet.net/?p=143534), SSECN thinks you should be aware of the following event in Biscayne Bay listed in this week’s Local Notices. If you venture out unto the water after dark, please use good seamanship and go slow!! Claughton Island is immediately south of the Miami River/AICW intersection.

FL-MIAMI-BISCAYNE BAY-CLAUGHTON ISLAND: Fireworks Display
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Fireworks Display will be held July 31, 2014 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in Miami, FL this display will be launched from a barge on the waters of Biscayne Bay south of Claughton Island, Chart: 11467, Ref: LNM 24/14

Here is something to make your next off-shore trek even more exciting. If you happen to “stumble upon” these sculptures, take a photo and send it to us! Although this Local Notice dos not give a current lat/lon, the position of the drifting dice can be monitored on Facebook.

ATLANTIC COAST – TRIANGLE FORMED BETWEEN THE CANARY ISLANDS, PORT D’ESPAGNE VENEZUALA AND JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA: Giant Ocean Dice (AQUADICE)
The US Coast Guard received a report of two adrift independent 8′ x 8′ x 8′ orange cubes. The cubes known as a “floating sculpture” called AQUADICE. AQUADICE will be highly visible at sea. The bodies of the dice will be painted a bright phosphorescent orange with blue pips on each face. In addition each face will have constantly flashing lights visible up to 5 kilometers and with life spans of 2 years. The beacons will provide electronic signals. The voyage of AQUADICE will serve as a feasibility study for unmanned, non-sail; wind powered Trans-Atlantic shipping. This sculpture does not readily present a danger to navigation. Mariners are advised to be on the lookout. For complete information refer to the website http://aquadice.net/AQUA_DICE.html

This report of shoaling in Sisters Creek is not the first sent to SSECN (http://cruisersnet.net/?p=105056) about the waters at Mile 735, however, it is the first Local Notice to Mariners about the shoaling. Gunnison Cut is midway between Nassau Sound and the St. Johns River/ICW intersection.

This shoaling seems to lie two miles south of Fernandina Beach harbor just north of the Waterway’s turn into Kingsley Creek.
NOTICE that the USCG has established a “TEMP Buoy 2″ to mark these shallows!!!

This discontinued Waterway buoy had marked the western side of the narrow channel through a Problem Stretch noted for frequent shoaling. The marker was removed in 2011 but still shows on charts, as shown in the accompanying charts.

This section of the Eastern Florida Waterway has long been designated as an AICW Problem Stretch due to persistent shoaling. Since only passage at mid-to-high tide has been our recommendation, the dredging of this intersection is very welcome news!

FLORIDA – AICW – MIAMI – BAKERS HAULOVER INLET: (UPDATE: 03/24/2014) Dredge Operations
Southwind Construction Corp. will commence dredging in the vicinity of Bakers Haulover Inlet beginning on or about 18 March. The Dredge JENNIE LEA II and workboats Ann Kay & Viper will be on scene monitoring VHF-FM channels 13, 16 & 78. Operations will continue 24/7 until on or about April 5, 2014. Buoys may be temporarily disestablished to accommodate dredge operations and the channel may be restricted to vessel traffic. Submerged pipeline will be in designated areas then turn southerly toward the Bal-Harbor Beach placement site. Further information contact the Project Manager, Devon Carlock at (812) 867-7220. Mariners are advised to transit at the slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. For passing arrangements contact the Dredge JENNIE LEA II. See enclosure section for pipeline route.
The below aids have been temporarily discontinued to facilitate dredge operations.
Biscayne Bay Buoy 7 (LLNR 47822)
Biscayne Bay Buoy 7A (LLNR 47824)
Biscayne Bay Buoy 7B (LLNR 47828) has been temporarily relocated to position 25-54-04.052N / 080-07-54.294W to facilitate dredge operations.
**The area is subject to frequent changes in depth and direction due to shifting shoals. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution, seek local knowledge when transiting the area, and use alternate route when necessary.**
Chart 11467 LNM:12/14